https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:29:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925620 Wed, 01 Dec 2021 08:02:55 +0000 Lahela017 2925620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yay!! So special! :grin: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925619 Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:29:18 +0000 bhbee 2925619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsJBeeG: so sweet! :heart: Happy birthday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925618 Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:26:59 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2925618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m so excited! My little girl really started independently walking yesterday. She walked 8 steps across our living room and then did a second time which we caught on video. Lots of walking with help and along furniture between my last post and yesterday. It just seems to be clicking for her. </p> <p>I can’t lie - I love it and am so proud of her. And it came the day before my birthday so I consider it the best birthday gift. :heart: Proud momma moment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925390 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 12:57:05 +0000 Chuckles 2925390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter was like this! She didn't start really walking independently until 19 months. And for probably 2-3 months before that she loved walking if she could hold both our hands, but there was absolutely nothing we could do to get her to try to walk independently. She would just drop down and crawl or get upset. And during that time she would transfer between standing at the couch and playing at the coffee table, so we tried moving them farther and farther apart to get her to walk just a step or two. And every time she did just the same thing your kiddo does - look to see if she had to walk and then just drop down and crawl. I think the only thing that helped, besides time, was that she loved cruising around a climbing structure in our yard. At least she got a lot of practice "walking" without holding to us. As long as you don't have any concerns about muscle tone, I'd say just give her time and lots of places to cruise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925389 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 12:45:49 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2925389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: your response makes me feel better. I read some blogs where moms had a similar experience - a few steps and then a month or two later the kiddo just started walking everywhere. I suspect my daughter may do it. But I’m thinking I can help encourage - we have a soft large stool she loves to stand at - maybe if I move it a little farther with her - she’ll take a few steps on her own regularly. She has a push thing - fisher price that she can push all down stairs and does. I feel like it isn’t lack of opportunity holding her back. But who knows??? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925388 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 12:43:11 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2925388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lahela017: we do. She likes to walk and has gotten to the point that she will regularly hold just by one hand. I’m sure we could do more of it - I feel like I could say that about everything when raising a little one though. 🤣 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925387 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:58:10 +0000 bhbee 2925387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this kid! She took a few steps across the room at 17m and then didn’t walk again for a month until she just decided to do it one day at 18m. And then she walked like she’d been doing it for months vs the usual drunken sailor new walker. She’s almost 10 and still cautious and likes to observe :happy: </p> <p>So nothing really worked for her, but my others really liked pushing a cart (needs to be heavy enough not to tip obviously) and maximizing cruising with a couple steps - we had one of those wooden play cubes and it helped create short distances she could step from it to other things (and was easy to move around to make it further or whatever). But if nothing works that’s ok too! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925385 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 07:24:47 +0000 Lahela017 2925385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you hold her hands while she walks much? I'd try doing that a lot, it might help her gain the confidence to do it on her own. Also praise when she does do a few steps on her own. That will get her excited about it too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-independent-walking#post-2925384 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 06:40:01 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2925384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone! I hope you are all well. Life’s been crazy here - moving cross country (I could share a few funny stories of spots along the way with a 16 month old in my car with just mom). But we are starting to feel settled. </p> <p>My question is my little girl is 17 months old. She’s taken a few steps by herself over the last month but not many and not often. Is there anything I should be doing to encourage her to walk more? Just looking for advice on how to encourage her to walk more. Or maybe it’s just it will happen when it happens? </p> <p>For background my girl was born 4 weeks early. She was a late crawler - really started crawling around 12-13 months. Now she crawls everywhere. She cruises along furniture all the time without losing her balance. She stands really without support and for long stretches when playing or other activities.. I don’t believe it’s an impairment issue - I suspect it’s confidence and just not being ready to go for it. I don’t have any worries about her brain or body - she’s doing well developing on all fronts (I say that to mean I’m not looking for advice to take her to her pediatrician and discuss physical therapy - I don’t think it’s a development issue at all). And I also watch her and she clearly assesses the distance between furniture and toys and the like and if she assesses it’s too far, she lowers herself down and crawls to it rather than stepping to ut. I’ve moved furniture to encourage her to take steps but I believe if she gauges it’s a bit to far away - she crawls. It’s like she’s too smart for her own good on this front. :silly: </p>